FEBRUARY 2021 PCWorld 105back in 2014 (go.pcworld.com/and1), but
the two projects are cut from the same cloth.
The vision of Android One was to bring a
pure Android experience to lower end
phones that were often filled with bloatware.
The Pixel phones are basically high-end
Android One phones. Even with better
components and displays, the focus—and
selling point—is on software.
That software emphasis, however,
is largely why the early Pixel phones
failed to make much of an impact. The
designs didn’t match the high cost,
especially when compared to simi-
larly priced handsets from Apple and
Samsung. That’s why the Pixel 3a and
4a have fared better in terms of sales
(go.pcworld.com/btsl): The lower
prices just make more sense.
With the Pixel 4a, 4a 5G, and 5,
Google is creating a better balance
between the hardware people
want and the software they need.
With Android One (go.pcworld.
com/adon), Google was “working
closely with phone and silicon
chip makers...to build phones that
are not just great to use, but also
affordable,” a mantra that has
found its way into the 2020 Pixel
lineup. It’s more than just a lower
price point or slower chip. For
what seems like the first time in a
Google phone, the Pixel 5 phone
is built solely to leverage the power of
Android without worrying about high-end
parts and high-priced competitors.
The Pixel 6 could take it even further. The
lineup this year was a little confusing with the
$499 Pixel 4a 5G and $699 Pixel 5, especially
because the 4a 5G had a bigger screen than
the 5. Google has a lot more room to grow
now that it has established the Pixel as aPrevious Pixel phones never had the right formula.
The Pixel 5 lost its glass back but kept wireless charging.